Reprinted
The Sierras of Extremadura
32 half and full-day walks in western Spain's hills
The Sierras of Extremadura
32 half and full-day walks in western Spain's hills
Guidebook to Extremadura, one of Spain's most unspoilt regions, comprising the provinces of Caceres and Badajoz. 32 mainly circular walks (6 to 19km) explore Sierras, rolling hills and oak forests criss-crossed by thousands of kilometres of ancient paths. Includes the Jerte Valley, the hill town of Montánchez, Guadalupe and Monesterio.Walk in the Sierras of Extremadura and discover one of Spain's most unspoilt and least-visited regions, where ancient oak forests, dramatic gorges, rolling hills, and centuries-old pathways stretch across the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz in western Spain. From the high peaks of the Sistema Central in the north to the sun-baked sierras of the south, Extremadura offers a walking destination of exceptional natural beauty, rich history, and remarkable wildlife.
Suitable for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook describes 32 mainly circular walks across three distinct sierra regions. Routes range from 6 to 19km (4–12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–6 hours, with some walks linkable to create longer routes of up to 28km (17 miles).
- Choose from 32 walks across the Sierras of Extremadura, exploring diverse landscapes from the lush valleys and waterfalls of the northern Sierra de Gata and Jerte Valley to the oak woodlands of the central Montes de Toledo and the remote southern Sierra Morena, with highlights including Los Pilones, Montánchez castle, and the monastery town of Guadalupe.
- Plan your Extremadura walking trip for the ideal season, with guidance on local conditions showing why September to June suits the northern and central sierras best, while October to May is ideal for the southern sierras, avoiding the intense summer heat of this inland Spanish region.
- Navigate with confidence in the Sierras of Extremadura using clear route descriptions with 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files, with practical information on refreshments, access, parking, and water sources provided for every route.
- Benefit from detailed route descriptions across all three sierra regions, with every walk covering ascents and descents on ancient paths and tracks that require no mountaineering skills, making them accessible to anyone with a reasonable level of walking fitness.
- Find practical holiday planning advice for Extremadura, with notes on the best walking bases including Jerte, Montánchez, Guadalupe, and Monesterio, plus comprehensive information on accommodation, food and drink, getting there, and getting around this largely rural region.
- Deepen your experience of the Sierras of Extremadura with sections on geology, human history, plants and flowers, and the region's outstanding wildlife, including the birds of prey, Iberian lynx habitat, and prehistoric cave paintings found across this remarkable corner of western Spain.
Plan your Spanish walking adventure with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. Immerse yourself in the ancient landscapes, wild sierras, and rich cultural heritage of Extremadura, one of western Spain's most rewarding and least-explored walking destinations.
The Sierras of Extremadura – Quick Facts
Guide name: The Sierras of Extremadura
Location: Spain – Extremadura, western Spain (provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz)
Routes covered: 32 mainly circular walks (6–19km/4–12 miles) across the northern, central, and southern sierras; some walks linkable to create routes of up to 28km
Typical duration: 2–6 hours per walk; range of half and full-day options
Difficulty: Suitable for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness; all walks involve ascent and descent but require no mountaineering skills
Terrain: Ancient paths, oak forests, river gorges, rolling hills, mountain tracks, and historic village trails
Navigation/mapping: 1:50,000 mapping and GPX downloads included; practical notes on access, parking, and water sources for every route
Accommodation & logistics: Notes on walking bases including Jerte, Montánchez, Guadalupe, and Monesterio, with advice on accommodation, food and drink, and getting around Extremadura
Author Highlight
“Ancient footpaths lined with yellow broom, purple lavender and white cistus lead in and out of dark pine woods that provide cool shade. High rolling pastures, bright with wildflowers, are framed by snow-capped mountains which puncture the blue sky. The white-washed, red-roofed buildings of small villages can be seen tucked into the folds of hillsides. Cows graze the lower slopes and the valley floor, their bells providing the only intermittent sound; griffon vultures circle above the peaks. There is not another person in sight. Extremadura remains Spain’s least-known and least-visited region, but very gradually, walkers, lovers of nature’s beauty and seekers of peace are finding their way there.”
- Gisela Radant Wood, author of Walking the Sierras of Extremadura
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852848484
Availability
Published
Published
2 Oct 2017
Edition
First
Pages
224
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm
Weight
250g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device. To access your eBook, you will need an eReader app. For more details, visit the eBook FAQs.
Map key
Overview map
INTRODUCTION
Geography and geology
Animals and birds
Flowers and plants
Human history
Getting there
Getting around
When to go
Bases and accommodation
Food and drink
Language
Money
Communications
What to take on a walk
Waymarking
Maps
Health and emergencies
Using this guide
THE NORTHERN SIERRAS: THE SISTEMA CENTRAL
Sierra de Gata
Walk 1 San Martín de Trevejo and the Sierra de Eljas
Walk 2 Pico Jálama
Walk 3 Puerto de Castilla and Pico Jañona
Walk 4 Castillo de Almenara and the Sierra de las Jañonas
Walk 5 Robledillo de Gata and Ovejuela
Sierra de Béjar
Walk 6 La Garganta and El Nevero
Walk 7 La Muela and the forest track
Walk 8 The valley route to La Muela
Sierra de Gredos
Walk 9 Cascadas Nogaleas in the Montes de Tras la Sierra
Walk 10 Los Pilones and Puente Sacristán
Walk 11 Jerte to Puente Nuevo in the Sierra de Tormantos
Walk 12 Puente los Papúos in the Montes de Tras la Sierra
Walk 13 The Jaranda valley
Walk 14 Guijo de Santa Bárbara and El Trabuquete
THE CENTRAL SIERRAS: THE MONTES DE TOLEDO
Sierra de Montánchez
Walk 15 Arroyomolinos
Walk 16 Torre de Santa María to Montánchez
Walk 17 Torre de Santa María and the mills
Walk 18 The oak woods of Zarza de Montánchez
Walk 19 Almoharín and the Sierra de San Cristobal
Walk 20 The Sierra de los Alijares
Walk 21 The Sierra de Santa Cruz
Sierra del Campillo and the Sierra de Juncaldilla
Walk 22 Garganta de Cuernacabras
Sierra de Guadalupe
Walk 23 Garciaz and Pico Venero
Walk 24 Cabañas de Castillo to Navezuelas
Walk 25 Navezuelas to Guadalupe
Sierra de la Pela
Walk 26 Orellana de la Sierra
THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS
Sierra de Peñas Blancas and Sierra de Juan Bueno
Walk 27 La Zarza
Sierra Grande de Hornachos
Walk 28 Hornachos
Sierra Morena
Walk 29 Cabeza la Vaca and the Sierra de Buitrera
Walk 30 Monasterio de Tentudía and Pico Tentudía
Walk 31 Forest circuit in the Sierra Tudía y Sus Faldas
Walk 32 Alto de Aguafría and the Sierra de Aguafría
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Link route summary table
Appendix C Additional waymarked routes in the area
Appendix D Useful contacts
Appendix E Glossary
Seasons
September to June for the Northern and Central Sierras. There may be snow in December and January in the Northern Sierras. October to May is the best time for the Southern Sierras.
Centres
San Martín de Trevejo, Gata, La Garganta (Hervás), Jerte, Jarandilla de la Vera, Montánchez, Almoharín, Guadalupe, Mérida, Alange, Hornachos, Monesterio.
Difficulty
Everyone with a reasonable level of walking fitness can do these walks. All involve ascents and descents but these are walks and not mountain climbs. There is no grading system for the walks - some are very hard but all are achievable.
Must See
Northern Sierras: Pico Jálama, Pico Jañona, Puerto de Castilla, El Chorrituelo de Ovejuela (Extremadura's highest waterfall), La Muela, Cascadas Nogaleas, Los Pilones, Jaranda valley. Central Sierras: Montánchez castle, Cerro San Cristobal, Aljibe on the Sierra de Santa Cruz, Pico Venero, Guadalupe. Southern Sierras: cave paintings, Alange reservoir, Hornachos castle, Pico Tentudía, Tentudía Monastery, Pico Aguafría, Aguafría castle.
October 2025
Author updates
Walks 6, 7 and 8 Pages 62-75
Refreshment choices in the village of La Garganta are severely restricted. The small bar that lies just off the parking area serves good tapas and nice cold drinks but is open only at weekends. If you plan to walk any of the routes you will need to take some supplies from Baños de Montemayor before you drive up to La Garganta as there really is no guarantee anything at all will be open in the week. (13.10.2025)
Walks 7 and 8 Pages 66-75
For some reason the middle track to La Muela has been covered with concrete. Walk 7 is concreted as far as La Muela and while it does make for easier walking (as the track had previously been rough) it is a different experience — somehow less 'wild'. Occasionally, there is a 20 speed sign which is ridiculous as a motorist would be hard put to do even 10 on the narrow, winding and climbing path.
At the point where a footpath leaves the track to climb through the trees to reach La Muela, ‘Via Ferrata de La Muela’, there are information boards, a small parking area and a picnic table. It only needs an ice cream van and portaloos.
Walk 8 is still mainly natural but has a relatively short stretch of track covered in concrete. The affected part starts at N40° 18’ 43.05” W05° 47’ 35.70" at the hairpin bend.
Walk 8 is still mainly natural but has a relatively short stretch of track covered in concrete. The affected part starts at N40° 18’ 43.05” W05° 47’ 35.70" at the hairpin bend.
May 2025
Walks 10, 11 and 13
Thank you to Carolyn Acton for the following updates
Walks 10 and 11
The book says you can link the walks if you can cross the Vado but not to attempt if the water is high. There is now a bridge so no need to worry.
Walk 13
Where the book mentions crossing a ford there is now a bridge. The walk mentions turning at a signpost Camino Santo Nuncia, which is no longer there, instead there is a big sign about works.
October 2024
Walk 23
This land over which this walk goes has new owners. They are not continuing with the decades-old concession for walkers to use the footpaths. The land is now fenced, gated and locked and has be declared a hunting reserve. A shorter version of the walk can be done by following the turning described in paragraph two on page 156 but really, the best part of the walk — the views from Pico Venero and the walk through the chestnut woods — can no longer be enjoyed. The shorter version is 10.2km.
September 2024
Walk 8 Pages 71-75
This walk is now signposted but there seems to be some work underway on the path. As for refreshment choices in the village of La Garganta; the small bar that lies just off the parking area serves good tapas and nice cold drinks but is only open at weekends now. If you plan to walk the two La Muela routes you will need to take some supplies from Baños de Montemayor before you drive up to La Garganta as there really is no guarantee anything at all will be open in the week.
September 2024
Walk 32 Pages 208–212
The tiny turning to visit the Castle Tower and see the stunning views from near the top of the Sierra de Aguafría is signposted courtesy of the Tourist Office. It is a public right of way.
The problem is that the owners of the land do not want people to walk on their land. They pull up the sign and throw it into the hedge every time the Tourist Board puts the signpost back, which can make it hard to find.
The turning is on the right, going down, and the GPS is: N38° 02' 57.68" W06°15' 59.97"
June 2019
Route Updates
Optional addition to Walk 5 Robledillo de Gata and Ovejuela
Start from Walk 5 Start/Finish point (N40°19’20.53" W06°28’24.78”W)
Total distance: 4.50km
Altitude lowest/highest: 560m/685m
Start from the small car parking area to the west of Robledillo de Gata where Walk 5 starts and finishes. Walk away from the village and westwards along a concrete lane marked by a red and white flash (it is part of the GR10) to pass some information boards on the left. Keep on the concrete lane for 580m to take the second right junction signposted Ermita de San Miguel. Pass the hermitage which is on the left and 70m later leave the concrete lane to take the dirt track on the left.
The dirt track passes through olive groves on the left and is wide and easy to walk. It is used by olive farmers to access their trees. The going is very slightly up. Reach a vague clearing which is where the olive farmers turn their vehicles around. From this point, the track becomes an earth footpath with occasional small slates underfoot but nothing of any consequence.
The views are all on the left overlooking a valley created by the Arroyo de la Garganta. The opposite valley wall is covered with trees especially pines but also some deciduous oaks and junipers. The flowering bushes are varieties of broom including Spanish Heath. Mediterranean Daphnie grows abundantly. Wild flowers are not profuse but when I walked in July, foxgloves were plentiful.
The footpath winds along the valley side and starts to descend gently. Reach where someone has cut five steps into the footpath to make a small but steep descent more accessible. The footpath ends overlooking the head of the valley and out towards the bigger valley created by the Árrago river. It is quite spectacular considering the altitude is not very high. At the end of the footpath is a dolmen — a Neolithic burial chamber. It is unusual in its construction but the menhirs used within the structure give it authenticity. In any event, it is worth the delightful walk to see it.
The return is simply a retrace of steps back to Robledillo de Gata.
One important point to notice is that the walk is on the east side of the river valley. In high Summer, it is possible to start the walk as late as 9.00 and dawdle looking at the view and spotting raptors overhead and finish at 11.00 and the sun is still not high enough to strike the path or the east side of the valley. The sun is all on the west side and very pretty it looks there. It means this walk can be done very comfortably, year-round.
Walk 4 Pages 60-61
The directions are all still the same but there are now wooden bridges to cross the river at the three points formerly where stepping stones were used. The path is still evident but at various places the rough path has been laid with slate and occasionally there are wooden handrails. Once at the waterfall the route continues on paths and tracks that have not been 'improved'. Obviously, a small village such as Ovejuela relies on week-end and tourist walkers who start the walk in the village, go to see the waterfall and then return to the village for refreshments. This part of the walk is now more accessible.
Walk 10 & 11 Pages 84 & 89
A wooden bridge has been constructed over the ford. It is high enough to clear flood waters. Permutations of these walks are now possible all year round.
July 2018
There has been a recent programme of identifying and signposting local walks in the Sierra de Montánchez. These are waymarked in white and green but also have finger signposts at intervals. These signposts are new and so not referred to in walks 15 and 16 where one or two signposts and waymarks may cross the path of those walks.
Walk 15 Page 109
Park anywhere in the open area at the top of Calle Altozano. Walk straight towards the four antenna ahead on the concrete road to reach a Y-junction with the antenna and a small concrete lane to the right. Go left. Pass a turning on the left and take the one, right, a few paces further on. There is a new finger signpost at this junction with three options. Follow the one marked ‘SL-CC7 Ruta de las Atolladeras’. There is also a white and yellow cross on the wall on the left plus a white and green waymark. Walk on the rough track and follow it to pass the ruin of a mill on the left. Cross a small ford, the first of many, and continue as the track winds and narrows. Come to a small open space which is a vague crossroads but the main track continues ahead towards some double metal gates where the track bends right. On the right are views of the villages of Arroyomolinos and Alcuéscar behind. Reach a distinctive boulder on the left with a signpost opposite. Ignore a junction, left, and continue ahead. Come to a few outbuildings on both sides of the track with a wide space with multiple gateways. Here the track bends left. Just before a wide T-junction there is a white and green post with a waymark on the right but take the left track away from the village. After about 100m, up on the left, are three low stone crosses; difficult to see against the background of the sierra. Reach a signpost on the left, ‘Mirador de las Tres Cruces 25m’ and if you want to see the crosses make the small diversion at this point. Walk until a long, grey outbuilding is reached on the right and a red one is straight ahead. There is a junction. Turn left on to a wide track to put the red outbuilding on your right. There is a white and green waymark.
Continue the walk as directed …
Walk 17 Page 123
The ‘tiniest of paths’ referred to may be partly obscured by low-growing vegetation in the Summer months.
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